Automatically and continuously working phonograph



T. UEMURA Nov. 7, 1939.

AUTOMATICALLY AND CONTINUOUSLY WORKING PHONOGRAPH Filed Feb. 24. 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 TA 11/ 1' 0E: aRA

' INVENTOR .H/ls ATTORNEY T. UEMURA Nov. 7, 1939.

AUTOMATICALLY AND CONTINUOUSLY WORKING PHONGGRMH Filed Feb. 24 1936 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 779 111i VEMuR/I YINVENTOR BY I m I H s ATTORNEY T. UEMURA Nov. 7, 1939.

AUTOMATICALLY AND CONTINUOUSLYVWORKING PHONOGRAPH Filed Feb. 24, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 TA i a i (IE/MIRA INVENTOR H I S ATTORNEY 4 Shasta-Sheet 4 T li; Uem ura \NVENTOR BY K Q56 ATTORNEY 'r. UEMURA Nov. 7, 1939.

AUTOMATICALLY AND CONTINUOUSLY WORKING PHONOGRAPH Filed Feb. 24, 1936 Patented et. 7.1939 I i I I AUTOMATICAiiLY AND-CONTINUOUSLY WORKING-PHONOGRAPH d I 'laiji Uemura, Klnuta-Mura, Kita-Tama-gum Tokyo-in, Japan 1 I Application February '24, 1936, Serial No. 65,296-

i In Japan March 25, 1935 I o v I i 3 Claims. (01; 274 I r This invention relates to'a phonographoi' the Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the record fetch-v type capable of playing automatically and coning device and its driving cam on a larger scale. tinuously a large number of records one by one. Record-hanging dams (refer to Figs. 1 and 5 phonograph which is capable of serving for either h device is c mp tW pri h r0 18 6 of double sided endf single-sided recoirds t1); 2' artig 3sargail tgigd relszi'izectlivel lyl h at opipisite sides mere displacemen o a cam group part cular 0!! e D 0 8' P e 8 ID or un- ,ananged. 4 played records-R. is provided with a cross rod A further object of t i ti i "t pro- '4 having a hook at its end. On said-cross rod is 10 vide such' a phonograph as is e t play slidably mounted a disc 6 which is pressed at :10 large'number oftrecords one by one irrespective iz d i 1 gi a gginglgyggggmogs ssaiils gloss of their -difleren dimensions.

According to this invention, a large number of Vided Wl a cross rod 7 which is l h y ent r large and small records supported on a record upwards. near he c n r l P t hanging device WhiCh arranged at one side St ti t h (refer t i 1 and 2 f fi f fl by The starting 'switch for driving the starting 1 e an en e rec- 81 3, 5 1 131 8:88 of a single sided record after mqtor adapted impart Pmper movements to it has been played a well as m the case of; a every mechanism at the end of playing (the turn double-sided record-after it has been once turned table .Y in rotation by means of other 20 iovtelr and played. mac be rei elred iron:i 1:116 turn $52; 13 z gfiggg f 3 2 :22; L s igm a:

0 e ce ar-. i g; 3 5: 3:3 3 33 fi g p plate I and thetum table 9. On one side of said plate and t the same a new re ord may III is fixed a metal piece is con- 25 be fetched and treated in the;same manner, all 2 31 51 gf g g f gag gggg Zi g: 25

. as p $2112? fl m same way plate I0 is pivoted an elbow lever I 2 having a Accompanying drawings show the case of the 23- on one arm a Pmjecting Piec h being served for a dub1e s1ded-?ec on another arm. Said plate I0 is further pro- 0rd and the condition in which a record, after vmed with a ar e elbow lever piwted at 30 it has been played on one side thereof and turned 13 which is provided at one end with Projecmai mm the f T i $32 a??? s i gfiggzg at the end to the plate I it by means of a spring 35 a 22. Asliding piece 18, which is connected at 35 g the Invention which the record is the bent end thereof to a spring l9 secured on removed and the turn tab e is partly destroyed to show clearly the starting switch and record 3 5 525 i ggi 'gg gi gg g f g g fi i g fe side View f the phonograph pivoted at 20 a lever 2| which is adapted to come 40 seen from the side shown by arrow Hin' Fig. 1. 222 31; 3 2 fig g zg f (mt shown) 40 zf i fig i seen p the side shown As the elbow lever I2 is moved in the direction shown by the ar'rowwith the movement of the b 4 9 from/tine side shown pick-up during the playing of a record the end 0 y 4 f h 1 thereof may be freed from the flange l6 of 5 18 am side View mm t e 8 the lever l4, the free'end oi the sliding piece l8,

P y arrqw V i on account of oneend of the lever l4 being drawn Fig. 6 1s a s de view of the record fetching defrom the spring 22 may be engaged with a I vice and cam group. small upright piece g5 fixed to the. plate l0 so 7 1s a Plan View the mechanism for as to prevent the movement ofthe lever I4. 50

controlling the position of the pick- 19i However, the projecting piece 24 of the lever Fi is a slde Vi w Of h m m h wn l2 may be still moved along the upper toothed in Fig. 7. face of the sliding piece N. The projection 26 Fig. 9 is a ve rtical section through the shaft of the lever 2|, after the needle has passed over a record holding member. the end of the sound groove, may be pushed '65 I 39 during the playing, may

outward by the arm of the lever l2, so that the sliding piece |8 also may be pushed back against the spring |9 to get free from the engagement with the upright piece 25, whereupon the metal pieces II are pressed by the projection |5 to come into contact with each other as the result of the lever l4 being further drawn by the spring 22. Thus, the circuit is to be instantaneously closed to start the motor 21 mounted on the back side of the supporting plate I. The teeth provided on the sliding piece iii are so arranged as not to prevent the movement of the projecting pieces 24 in the direction towards the center of the turn table but to engage with the piece 24 in the case of the latter moving in opposite direction.

Mechanism for driving the pick-up (refer to Figs. 2, 5, 7 and 8) The pick-up 29 is movably mounted by means of a ball bearing on the base I05 fixed to the supporting plate I and is supported to move towards and away from the record on the turn table by means of a supporting rod 29, which passes through the slot 36 of the plate I and screwed on the lever 3| under the plate I. Said lever 3| is mounted loosely on a shaft 34 passing through both the frame 32 and a tray-form cam disc 33 fixed on the frame. The shaft 34 is provided at the lower end thereof with a lateral projection 35. Between the disc 33 and the hub of the lever 3| is interposed a ring 36, on the opposite sides of which two rollers 31 are rotatably arranged. The tray-form cam disc 33 is provided with two recesses 39 at the opposite parts on the upper rim thereof. The lateral projection 35 may always be pressed against the tray-form cam disc 4| by the action of a spring 41 fixed to the projection of the ring 36 and the frame 32. The tray-form cam disc 4| is provided with two recesses 46 at the opposite parts on the upper rim and is mounted on the driving shaft at one. end thereof. In the course of playing of a record said projection 35 rests in one of said recesses 40. The moment the 7 playing of arecord has finished and the circuit has been closed, as stated above, to start the motor 21, the driving shaft 39 and the disc 4| are rotated in the direction shown by arrow in Fig. 8 through a shaft 42, pinion 43 and toothed wheel 44 (refer to Fig. 2) and at the same time the disc which is provided with two recesses |0|' at opposite parts on the periphery thereof and is mounted on another end of the shaft 39, is rotated in the direction shown by arrow in Fig. 2, and in consequence the roller I03 of the switch I02, which fits in one of the recesses |6|' during the playing, comes out of the recesses IN to roll on the periphery of the disc whereupon the switch may be instantaneously closed to run the motor continuously till the roller I03 will fit in the next recess.

0n the other hand, the lateral projection 35, which is fitted in one of the recesses 40, may be gradually turned outwards by the rotation of the tray-form cam disc 4i to rotate the shaft 34 to certain extent, so that the roller 31 of the ring 36, which is fitted in one of the recesses be rolled on the rim of the tray-form cam disc 33. Consequently the lever 3|, then pick-up 28 may be raised to separate the needle from the surface of the record and at the same time be carried away outside the record as the result of the stop 46 provided on the back side of the hub of the lever 3| being *dle may be used Mechanism for turning over' and removing the record (refer to Figs. 1, '2, 3, 4 and A device for turning over and removing a record is composed of two bent bars 49 which lie on the plate I outside the turn table 9, the fore end of each bar being provided with a rotatable holding member 48 having a longitudinal groove in which the periphery of a record may be fitted, while the rear end thereof is bent to pass through openings of the plate I, the groove of the block 52, which is fixed on each end of a shaft 5| joumalled in bearings 50 (refer to Fig. 3), and each curved fork 55, which is fixed on the outer end of each shaft 54 joumalled in bearings 53. On one of said bars 49 may be slidably mounted a bent rod 58 which is provided at fore end with the teeth adapted to engage with the toothed wheel 56 loosely mounted on the shaft 48' of the holding member 48 and at the rear end with a ball 51 adapted ment 51' on the plate The holding member 48 is caused to rotate in a determined direction only through the cooperation of a pinion 66 fixed to the shaft 48' of said member 48 and pawl 59 pivoted on the toothed wheel 56. To keep the holding member 48 in horizontal position at every rotation thereof through 180, the strong springs 6| are provided on each bar 49 in such a manner that the free ends thereof may be pressedly fit'te'd in one of the grooves 48" transversely provided on the upper and lower sides of the shaft 48"of the holding member (Fig. 9). The inner end of each shaft 54 may be brought into contact with the outer end of each arm 64 whichis "pivoted to the head of a shaft 63 joumalled in a bearing '62 and is connected at the inner side to each other by a spring 65.

The driving levers 61 and 68, which are supported pivotally in a supporting member 69 (re-' fer to Fig. 3) and are adapted to drive the device for turning over and removing the record.

v the cam group slidably mounted on the driving shaft 39 which is joumalled in bearing (refer to Fig. 5). The spring 69' attached to the lever 68 (refer to Fig. 3) partly counterpoises the overweight of the left arm of lever 68 to facilitate the operation of the cams: Said cam group is composed of six cam discs A, A, B, B, C, C. This cam group is mounted on the shaft 39 by inserting the pins 12 projecting from the side thereof into the holes in fixed to the driving shaft in such a manner that the cam group is able not only to rotate together with the shaft 39 in the direction shown by arrow, but also to slide on said shaft by the lever 14 pivoted to the supportingmember 13 (refer to Fig. 6). Said lever 14 may be connected through the link to the arm 16 secured to the lower end of the shaft of a control to cooperate with the abutthe flange of the sleevehandle "on the supporting plate I. This hanfor controlling the machine to be adapted for either of the double-sided and single-sided records. For this purpose the handle is provided with a pointer which moves over handle TI. The cam respectivelycamfaces I3, 213, 3B, '43 and IE,-

a scale having the mark D for the double-sided record and the mark 0 for the single-sided record.- In Fig. 1 the pointer points to the mark D.

The cam discs A, Band C are all used for the double-sided record and are adapted to engage respectively with the lever 88, lever 61 and the recordfetching device (explained hereinafter).

On the contrary the cam discs A, B and C are all used for the single-sided record and are adapted to engage respectively with the lever 68, 81 and the record fetching/device in the case of the cam group being displaced by the discs A and A are nearly similar in form (refer to Figs. 3' and 6) but only a point 2A of the disc A is slightly out off, that is to say, the distance from the centre of the cam disc A to the than that to the opposite point IA. In the event of the lever 68 being pressed by the point IA of said cam disc A the record-turning-over-andremoving device may be driven to remove the record from the turn table, while in the case of the opposite point 2A said device may be driven to turn over the record. If the machine is used for the single-sided record the lever 68 is to be engaged with the cam disc A. In this case, both points IA, 2A of the cam disc A are at an equaidistance from the centre, so that the cam disc A may be used] always to remove the record from the turn table. The cam discs 13 and B are mainly similar in shape and contain 23', 3B, 4B but the former-is partly larger than the latter by the part containing the point 43. In the event of the lever 61 being pressed by either the point IE or 3B of thecam disc B the record-turning-over-and-removing device may be driven to hold the record, while in the case of the lever 81 leaving either the point 23 or 43 said device may be driven to set free-the record thus held.

When the machine may be used for the singlesided record, the lever 61 is to be engaged with the cam disc B. In this case both points IE, 33' are adapted to hold the record, while the points 23', 4B cam discs C and C may be used for driving the record-fetching-and-putting-on device. The cam disc C coincides in size and shape with each half of the cam disc C. In the event of the machine being used for the double-sided record, said device may be raised up by engagement of the curved part thereof with the point IC of the cam disc C and pushed upwards with the point 30 to fetch the unplayed record hanging on the rod 2. Inthe case of the single-sided record being played, said device may be raised up with both points IC' and C of the cam disc 7 C' (refer to Fig. 6) and be pushed upwards with tated during the playing but the moment the switch has been closed, it may be rotated together with the shaft 39. If the back side of a double-sided record, whichhas been turned over and put on the turn table as shown in the drawings, will be completely played and the pickup is carried away outside the record, the lever 61 may be pressed at one end thereof by the point 2A is a little shortertime the point When the backside of serve to set free the record.- The a slot 80in which a sliding block and inconsequence the aforesaid device may be gradually raised up in-accordance with the rotation of the shaft 5| resulting from the movement of the piece 85, accompanied by the rotating record, which is rotated by the cooperation of the ball 51 of the bent rod 58 and the abutment 51' as well as by the cooperation of the teeth provided at the fore end of the rod 58' and toothed wheel 58, and then the device puts up the record on the device 3 in the with the point case of the lever being pressed IA of the cam A. At the same 23 of the cam 13 is adapted to leave the lever 61, so that the holding members 48 may be opened to free the record from holding, thereafter the record-turning-over-and-removing device may gradually return to the original condition.

a double-sided record will be played, that is to say, the record will be only turned over, the record-tuming-over-and removing device may be driven to hold the record as the result of the lever 61 being pressed by the point 83 of the cam B and simultaneously therewith may be raised up gradually due to the engagement of the lever with the point 2A of the cam disc A. However the distance from the center to the point 2A of the cam disc A is smaller than that to the point IA and also the cam face between the points 3B and 4B is of equal radius, so that said device may be driven to fall down gradually with the record turned over to put it on the turn table, whereupon the record, after it has been put on the turn table, may be freed from cross rod 1 of the record hanging the device simultaneously with the lever 81 leavlifechan'ism for fetching and putting-on the records (refer to Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 6) 50 The record-fetching-and-putting-on device is composed of a curved part I8 extending downwards through the plate I and an arc-formed part I III which is formed integral with the former part and partly encloses the turn table. Said device is pivoted with the spindle 8| in the grooved supporter 88 mounted on the plate I. The enlarged part, that is to say,- the base part of the arcformed part is provided with two sets of openings 82 and 83 (refer to Figs." 1 and 6). At the back side of said part two bent levers 88 are fixed on the sides of the shaft 85 which is journalled in bearings 84. The shaft 85 is wound with a spring 81, which is fixed at one end to the shaft 85 and at the other end to the back side of the base part so that the bent ends 88 of the lever 86 may be projected through the openings 82, while in the case of a larger record (12 inch) having to be fetched the other bent ends 89 of the lever may be projected through the openings 83 as the result of the end 88 being pressed against said record face. In that part of the which lies in the grooved support 80 is provided SM is supported by a spindle 8| and is pressed by a spring 92.

curved part I8 has been completely-finished and the driving shaft 39 is brought into rotation, as stated above, the record-turning-over-and-removing device '5 may be raised up through the engagement of the lever 68 with the cam disc A and in succession the record-fetching-and-putting-on device also may be raised up about the spindle 6 kthrough the engagement of the curved part I3 with the point IQ of the cam disc C (refer to Figs. 2 and 6),

whereupon said device presses the lower ends of the unplayed records hanging on the rod 2. Then the device is driven to descend slightly when engaging the recess 2C of the cam disc C and in succession upon engagement of the curved part 13 near the angle thereof with the elongated point 3C of said cam disc the device is pushed upwardly to such an extent, that the first record can be removed over the curved end of the rod 4.

, m The movements of the device are accomplished while the spring 92 is compressed in the slot 90 against theblock 9| mounted on the spindle Ill,

and the device is guided by the block 9I in co-' the other bent ends 69 which will be projected through the openings 83 as the result of the bent ends 66 beingpressed against the surface of the record.

Mechanism for controlling the position of the p k-up (refer to Figs. 7 and 8) The device for controlling the pick-up so as to make the needle correctly position on the starting point of the sound groove, is composed of a lever 94 having upright rod 93 at one end and connected at other end-to the lever 95 under the supporting plate I. The free end of said lever 95 is positioned in a n-shape member fixed to the end of the lever 91 which has a pin 96 at the other end and is pivoted at the back side of the plate I. The pin 96 is adapted to engage with the lever 3| in case of need. on both sides of the lever 95 are arranged the stops 99. After a record has been turned over and put on the turn table (condition as shown in drawings) or a new record has been fetched and put on the turn table, the lateral projection of the shaft 36 may be driven to fall in the recess 46 of the tray-form cam disc I rotating together with -the shaft 39 and in consequence the rollers 31 of the ring 36 is caused to travel on the tray-form cam disc 33 towards the recess 36. By this movement the supporting rod, 29, then the pick-up 26 may be driven to move in accordance with the lever 3| moving through the friction against the ring 36. On the way of the movement of the lever 3| it engages with the pin 96 to turn the latter in the direction shown by arrow in Fig. 7, whereby the upright rod 93 also moves in the direction shown by arrow until it comes into contact with the periphery of the record, if it is a 12 inch one, so that the move-' ment of the pick-up stops. However, when the lateral projection 35 and the rollers 31' have completely fallen in the recess 49 and '36respectively, the lever 3| descends to get free from the engagement with the pin 96, and in consequence the needle I09 comes into contact with opening of the switch wards the recordbeing played.

2,178,978 when the playing of the double-sided recordthe'starting point' of the sound groove and at the same time'the roller I03 of the switch I92 fits in the recess Illl' of the disc I0l fixed to the end of the driving shaft 39. In this way the I02 is followed by the stoppage-of the whole mechanisms. The turn table, however, is always rotated by its own motor, so that the playing of the record is to be started simultaneously with the stopping of the running of the motor 21. The controlling means is adjusted for a smaller record (10 inch) in such a manner that the needle comes into contact with the starting point of the sound groove when the movement of the lever is prevented by the stop 99. From what is mentioned above it should be noted that the relation between the pick-up and the upright rod 93 or lever 95 and stop 99 must be predetermined in the manufacture of the machine to serve the aforesaid purpose.

As already referred to, the pick-up, after completion of the playing of a record is followed by theclose of the starting switch, may be separated from the record and carried away outside the record. on the way of this movement the pin 96 of the lever 91 is to be pushed back by the lever 3| to get free from the latter. A spring I04 is arranged under the supporting plate I to make the pin 96 turn 'back slightly to the position at which the latter is capable of engaging with the lever 3I in the next stage.

What has been stated hereinbefore relates to the action of the machine in the case of its being .adapted for the double-sided record.

If the machine is desired to be used for the single-sided record it is suificient merely to turn the control handle 11 till it points the mark (0) on the scale. From this operation 'may result the displacement 'of the cam group towards left -in Fig. 5. Such displacement being realized through the arm Hi, link 15 and lever I4, it brings about the result that the cam disc A, B and C is brought into connection with the lever 69, 61 and the curved-part 18 of the recordfetching device respectively.

In view of both points IA and 2A of the cam disc A being-the equal distance from the center and the same distance from the center as the point IA of the cam disc A, each record played may be suspended on the cross rod 1 every time the record-turningover-and-removing device may be raised up by the cam disc A. The cam disc B is cut off by the part corresponding to that containing the cam face 4B of the cam disc, B, so that the record-holding member 48 may be driven to hold the record whenever either the point IB' or 3B of the cam disc B'engages with the lever 61, and to separatethe record every time that either the point 23 01MB leaves the lever 61, that is to say, the record-turning-overand-removing device may be raised up. The cam disc C is composed of two parts, each of them being of the same form as the cam disc C, so that the record-fetching-and-putting-on device may be raised up on the engagement thereof with the point IC' or 46' of the cam disc C. and is driven to fetch the record on the point 36' or 66'. every time the record-turni -over-andremoving device may be raised up.

The other mechanisms operate in the same manner as in the case of the double-sided record In order to stop or start each mechanism, if necessary, the motor 21 may be preferably connectedto any other hand switch (not shown) Having now particularly described and ascerthe tained the nature of my invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare porting plate, a cross piece projecting horizontally from said post to carry a plurality of disc records, a hook on the free end of said cross piece to hold the records on said cross piece, a disc slidably mounted on said cross piece, a spring wound on the latter to press said disc resiliently towards said hook, and means to release one record from said hook and place it on the turn table, said means comprising a double armed lever having a slot in its mid portion, a spring pressed block slidably arranged in said slot, a trunnion supported on said table and projecting through said block and a cam below said supporting plate to control said lever, one arm of the latter projecting downwardly through an opening in the supporting plate and being crescent shaped to cooperate with said cam, the other arm having a base part and curved legs partly surrounding the turn table, .said base part being provided with openings, two U-shaped levers pivoted to the lower side of said base part with their end portions opposite said openings and a spring to normally project the inner end portions of said levers through two of said openings.

2. In a device to automatically change records on a phonograph turn table, thereby taking off and replacing the pick up, the combination of a supporting plate, a bearing on said plate to movably' support the pick up, an upright guide rod connected to the pick up projecting downwardly through a curved slot in said supporting plate, a horizontal arm connected adjacent one of its ends to the lower portion of said guide rod, the other end of said arm forming a bearing, a frame depending from said supporting plate, a supporting disc fixed to the lower part of said frame, a vertical shaft projecting through said frame, said supporting disc and said bearing, the latter being loosely mounted on said shaft, a. ring arranged on said shaft between said disc and said bearing in frictional contact with the latter, said ring being axially slidable with respect to said shaft and having at opposite sides thereof roll- .ers adapted to roll on said disc and to rest in recesses provided at oposite sides of the latter,

and cam controlled means to oscillate said shaft,

thereby elevating and tilting said ring, bearing and arm, guide rod and the pick up.

3. A device, as claimed in claim 2, including further means to control the starting position of the pick up, said means comprising a link assembly adapted to be driven by said horizontal arm, said link assembly having an upwardly projecting pin on one side adapted to engage the rim of the record and on the other side a downwardly projecting finger retaining said elevated arm and thereby the pick up in the position in which the latter is situated above the first of the sound grooves.

TAIJI UEMURA. 

